Self-aligning adjustable hanger for sliding door



April 17, 1956 o. PEARSON 2,741,794

SELF-ALIGNING ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR SLIDING DOOR Filed Jan. 9, 1952 III/III United States atent SELF-ALIGNING ADJUSTABLE HANGER FOR SLIDING DOOR Olaf Pearson, West Orange, N. 3.

Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,581

7 Claims. (Cl. 16-83) This invention relates to hangers for supporting sliding doors and to a novel assembly of the hanger and door with the supporting structure of the building.

One of the features included in some modern houses is the provision of very wide closets with two sliding doors at the front or" the closet which can be operated to completely open the front of either half of the closet. It is an object of this inveniton to provide an improved door hanger and sliding door construction which is particularly suitable for use with such closets.

One feature of the invention relates to a door supporting means which compries sliding blocks constructed and arranged to obtain self alignment so that the door will operate quietly and easily without observing close tolerances when installing it, and regardless of minor misalignment that may result from the settling of a new building.

Another object of the invention is to provide sliding doors with hanger supports that are more conveniently adjusted for obtaining alignment of the edge of the door with the side of the fixed frame against which the edge of the door contacts when the door is closed. The inven-i tion has blocks which slide along a rail to obtain quiet operation and extremely low friction. The construction is more economical, more compact, and more easily installed than the roller supports of the prior art. It is specially intended for closet doors but can also be used with doors between rooms, or in other locations where sliding doors are desirable. It is suitable for either wooden or composition doors, and some features of the invention can be used with tin metal doors even though these latter doors are not of sufiicient thickness to provide recesses for receiving the receptacle of the door hangers of this invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a door frame with two sliding doors made in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but with one of the doors moved to bring its hanger into the plane of section,

Figure 3 is a front view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a fixed door frame in a building. This frame includes vertical frame members 11 and 12 at opposite sides of the opening through the frame. There is a top frame member 14 and there is a rail 16 supported from the top frame member, by structure which will be described more fully in connection with Fig. 2. This rail 16 extends for the full width of the opening through the door frame. A sliding door 18 is supported from the rail 16 by slide blocks 20 at the upper ends of brackets 22 from which the door hangs.

The connection between the bracket 22 and the door 18 includes a receptacle 24 fitted into a recess in the rearward face of the door, and there is a vertically adjusted connector in the receptacle 24 by which the door 18 can be raised or lowered with respect to the overhead rail 16. The construction of this connector will be described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3; and for the present, it is sufiicient to understand that the forward door 18 is supported by brackets 22 at opposite ends of the door; and that the connectors at the lower ends of these brackets are independently adjustable selectively to raise and lower either end of the door to control the clearance between the door and the floor 25 immediately beneath it, and also to control the hang of the door, so as to keep the vertically extending edge 26 of the door, parallel with the vertical frame member 11 so that the door engages the frame member throughout its entire height when the door is moved into closed position.

There is a groove 28 in the bottom of the door for receiving a guide 30. This guide 30 is attached to the floor 25 and serves to prevent the lower edge of the door from swinging inwardly and outwardly. When the door is made of composition material that is not suitable for grooving, the bottom element 31 of the door is made of different material and is made somewhat higher than the groove 28.

The door 18 extends across one-half of the width of the opening in the .door frame 10. In order to close the other half of this opening, there is another door 32. Since the doors 18 and 32 have to pass each other, it is necessary to have one located outwardly of the other, and in the illustrated construction, the door 32 is the rearward door, its front face being located just beyond the rear face of the door 18. i

The door 32 is shown in a partly open position for clearer illustration. When both doors are closed there is preferably little or no overlap. The rearward door 32 is similarly supported from a guide rail located behind the guide rail 16, as will be more fully understood by reference to Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2, the top frame member 14 is shown with a downwardly extending web 33 secured to it, and there is a rail support 34 attached to the bottom of the web 33 by fastening means such as screws 35. In the preferred construction the web 33 and rail support 34 are made of hard wood.

The forward rail 16 is attached to the front face of the rail support 34 by screws, and a similar rail 36 is secured to the rearward face of the rail support 34 by similar screws. The screws for the rails 16 and 36 are indicated by the reference characters 38. These rails 16 and 36 rest on underlying shoulders of the rail support 34, in the construction illustrated, but this is not essential if the rails are supported by screws at closely spaced intervals throughout the length of the rails. Each of the rails 16 and 36 extends above the top of the rail support 34 and has a top surface of convex transverse curvature. The rails 16 and 36 are preferably made of fibre board, either black or red.

Each of the slide blocks 20 has a longitudinally extending groove that fits over the bearing surface on the top of the rail 16 or 36. This groove is of concave transverse contour and preferably has a radius of curvature greater than that of the convex bearing surface of the rail so that the block 20 can rock transversely through a limited angle of movement without binding on the rail. A block holder 40 covers the top and sides of the block 26 and has inwardly extending projections at its bottom edges and at the longitudinal ends of the block for preventing displacement of the block 20 in the block holder ;Q. Q '1 r:,".:.:3 .4 0..,...The-. sides. of.-. the. .blocksholdernhava short .flanges that extend under the bottom longitudinal corners of the block, and the holder 40 is' slightly longer than the block ,7 20,, and displaced, edge portions 42 just; beyond, the "ends of the'block for holding the lblockllaga'inst longitudinal displacement. It will 'be weYideriLthat the block can be held in the hdlder'l40' injvarious'other ways. f There is a bracket 44 with .atoplportion 45. (Fig.3) extending across the upper surface of,the block holder 540. This top portion 45 ofjthe bracket has a curved V face47 which touches'the'top of, the block holder 40 to provide a rocker bearing-Von. which ,the'bracket and block can. rock with respect. to. oneanotherabout fan axis extending transversely of, and preferably. norinalto,

1a verticalplan'e through the longitudinal axis of the rail '36.. The block holder, 40, is, connected ,to'the top portion 45.of the bracket by ariv'eti49nextending through the ",topportion of the bracket and throughthe top ,of the 'block holder 40. Thediame' terof this. rivet isjsom'ewhat les's'th'an' the holesthroughwhichf itlextendsjand it thus fprovides a loose-connection which, doe's'not interfere with :the rocking of the'block onthe surface 47. ,Th'ere is a "recess 50'injthe top of'the block to'give clearance for the bottom head of thefrivet'49. r or This construction provides a universal "alignment for the bra'cket'44 with respect to the rail 36., [The rocking of 'thenblock '0n the convex bearing surface of the rail 36 provides for transverse components of,mis:alignnient; whereas the rocking bearing'provided by the curved surface 47 permits nus-alignment of the bracket 20 Without disturbing the contact of the block along its entire longitudinal .length with the rail 16. g

The receptacle .24 is preferably countersunk into-a 'recessin'the door 18,. and there is an opening at the *top of the receptacle and through. the top 'of the door for the bracket 22 whichexte'nds downwardly past the rail 16"and into therec'eptacle 24. The downwardlyextending section of the bracket 22 contacts with an end wall'52 of the receptacle. There arelscrews 53 extending through slots 54 in the bracket 22 and these screws 53 thread into the end: wall'52 of the receptacle and clamp thebracket 22 against theend wall of the bracket The receptacle 24 has a flange56 which is preferably ,.me us, extending through the end wall 5 2 of the recepsunk recess in which the receptacle 24 is located. For

7 located at the centerplanes of the' doors very thin doors, the receptacle 24 need not be completely countersunk, and in the most extreme case can be merely attached-to the rear face of the door.-=

The rearward door 32-ha's a countersunk receptacle 24 which is the same as the receptacleqin the forward door 18, but it is necessary to have the bracket 44 on the rearward doorSZ' sliaped differently from the bracket 22 of the forward door. 3 V

The bracket 44 is connected to ablock holder which holds a block 20 that slides along the rearward rail 36. The connection is similar to that between the block holder 49 and the forward bracket, 22. V The bracket 44 extends downwardlypastjjthe rearward, face oftherail 36 and thefleXleJIldS horizontally at an intermediate level into the upper part of the r'eceptaclel24 and under. the 'rail'32. At the end wall of thereceptacle 24,, the brajcket 44turns downwardlyagain and has aslotted section that contactswith the end wall of the receptacle andjthat is attached to the end wall by screws 53 corresponding to the similar screws 53 that attach the forward bracket 22 to its receptacle 24. e K V p The bracket 44 has aloweifiend 58 which is the same as on the bracket 22 and ,thedoor 32' is similarly supported by a screw 6 connecting the flange 56 of the receptacle to, the lower end 5filof the bracket 44.

. In the construction illustrated, the screws 64 are not 13; and 32, that is, the center of gravity of each of'the doors is not in the plane with theaxes of the screws 691 by which each of the doors is supported. The receptacles 24 are counter sunk into the doors far enough to leave ample running clearancebetweenthe'rearwardface of the forward door and the forward face ofthe rearward door. The actual location of the center planes of the doors may be in front or behind their supporting rails depending upon the thicknesses of the doors.

When the doors 18 and 32 are-used for closets; the

receptacles 24. are left open since they are notyisible and the screws 69 are more easily available for adjustment with the receptacles open. When the-doors are used between roorns, covers are placed over the recep- 'r'nade by striking out a portion of the end Wall 52.' This l'flange'can be made in other ways and itis merely repre sentative of a fixed part of the receptacle 24 lodged under Z a'lowerportion 58 of the bracket 22. This lower portion "58 extends rearwardly to a position under the rail 16.

A-"connector 6Q attaches the lower portion 58 of, the

f 'bi"acket to the flange 56,0f the receptacle, This con- "IIBClOl' 60 is preferably a screw or bolt which extends through the flange 56 and threadsinto the lowerportion 58 of the bracket or'into a nut carriedby the bracket "and forming, in effect, apart of the bracket. The openinginthe flange 56 for the connector 60 is a slot, that 4 opens through the end of the flange, instead or merely a hole."-This facilitates the assembly of the structure because'the door can be lifted to the proper level andthe flange 56 then brought into position by endwise move- "'ment that engages the slot of the flange over the shank of'the screw. 7 3

The door 18 is supported by the screw 60. When the clamping screws 53 are loose, the screw 60 is rotated to l raise or lower the flange 56 and thedoor 18 to which the flange is rigidly connected. The -screw 60 thus pro vides a threaded connectorby which the end of the door,

;gular movernent of the bracket 22 With respect to the receptacle 24.

recess in the door 18 by screws 62, or other fastening tacles 24in order to obtain aneater appear'ancev A front cover board 7 0 extends downward in front of the rail 16 and the rail support 34 so as to hide'the sliding blocks and the upper portionsof the brackets 22.' Ordinarily there is no corresponding cover plate atthe-back of the door frame when the doors are used for a closet; but when they are used between rooms, there is a similar cover board on the inside of the door frame.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated a'nddescrib'ed, but-changes 'and modifications can be made without departing from the'invention as described in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sliding door hanger assembly for supporting a 'door frorn an overhead rail that'has a bearing surface of convex transverse contour, said assembly including. a slide block having a concave bearing surface'that flts over the bearing surface of the rail, the concave'bearing surface being of greater radius of'curvature than the contour of the rail surface so'that theblock: can rock transversely on the rail without binding, a block holder in which the slide block is retained, a braeket having a top portion extending across the block holder and having a bearing thereon which is supported fromfthe The receptacle 24 can be held within its countersunk block, said bearing having acurved surface that provides for rocking of the holder with respect to the bracket substantially at right angles to the rocking of thefblock on the rail, said bracket also having a vertically extending section in position to pass downwardly in front of an overhead rail by which the slide block is supported when the hanger assembly is in its intended relation to said rail, and a vertically adjustable connection by which the bracket is connected to the door with which it is intended to be used.

2. A sliding door hanger assembly for suspending a door from an overhead rail which is connected with a fixed supporting structure, said assembly including a lignum vitae slide block having a curved bearing face that engages a supporting surface of the rail, the top of the block having a recess therein, a block holder extending lengthwise of the block and beyond the ends of the block and having inwardly displaced sections beyond the end of the block, to hold the block against displacement in the holder, a bracket that has a top portion, extending across the top of the block holder, which has a curved surface in contact with the top of the block holder and has a radius of curvature extending transversely of the rail so that the block holder has a rocking movement with respect to the bracket in the plane of the longitudinal extent of the rail, a fastening element loosely connecting the block to the bracket, said fastening element extending through the top of the holder and into a clearance provided by the recess in the top of the block, said bracket also has a vertically-extending section in position to pass downwardly beyond an overhead rail by which the slide block is supported when the hanger assembly is in its intended relation to said rail, and a horizontally-extending lower portion in position to project under the rail at a substantial distance below the rail when the hanger assembly is in said intended relation, a receptacle for fitting within a recess in a face of the door, and a vertically-adjustable fastening means connecting the lower portion of the bracket with the receptacle for supporting the door from said bracket.

3. A sliding door hanger assembly comprising a slide block having a curved bearing face for sliding contact along a supporting rail, a holder for the block with inwardly displaced portions of the holder retaining the block within the holder, a bracket having a horizontally-extending top portion with a rocker bearing connecting the top portion of the bracket to the block holder, the radius of curvature of the rocker bearing extending transversely of the radius of curvature of the slide block curve, said bracket having a vertically extending section extending downwardly from the top portion and also having a horizontally-extending portion at the lower end of the vertically extending section, said horizontally-extending portion being turned inward under the top portion, a receptacle for connection with a door, and connecting means within the receptacle securing the receptacle to the lower inwardly turned portion of the bracket, said connecting means including an adjustable device for moving the receptacle vertically with respect to the bracket.

4. The door hanger assembly described in claim 3, characterized by a construction in which a portion of the vertically extending section of the bracket abuts against an end wall of the receptacle and has vertically extending slots therein through which threaded connectors extend for clamping the bracket to the back of the receptacle, said receptacle having a flange extending from the end wall thereof under the lower horizontally extending portion of the bracket, and a screw passing through the flange and bracket to adjustably support the flange at an adjusted position below the lower horizontally-extending portion of the bracket.

5. A sliding door hanger assembly for a door having a recess opening through a vertical face thereof adjacent to the top of the door, and with the wall of the recess comprising at least the major part of the side of a cylinder that has its axis of revolution generally normal to said vertical face, and with the horizontal diameter of the recess located at a substantial distance below the top of the door, said assembly including a generally cylindrical receptacle that is adapted to fit within the recess so as to be held against upward displacement by the portion of the door which defines that part of the recess above the horizontal diameter thereof, a bracket having a horizontal portion positioned within the receptacle and extending to the front of the receptacle and having a vertically extending section connected to the forward end of the horizontal portion and projecting upwardly for a substantial distance beyond the top limit of the receptacle for connection with supporting structure that runs along an overhead rail, and vertically adjustable means connecting the horizontal portion of the bracket to a part of the receptacle.

6. A sliding door hanger assembly for suspension from a supporting rail, said assembly including a slide block having a face that fits over the rail, a holder with top, end and side walls forming a recess in which the block is retained, the side walls extending below the face of the block that slides along the rail, a bracket to which the holder is flexibly connected, said bracket having a top portion, positioned above the top wall of the holder and extending beyond an outer side face of the block holder, a vertical section extending downwardly, and a lower portion secured to the lower edge of said vertical section and extending inwardly under the top portion for insertion in a recess in one side of the door, a receptacle adapted to be positioned in said recess in the door and adapted to be secured therein and means connecting the lower portion of the bracket to a part of the receptacle.

7. In a sliding door hanger assembly for supporting a door from an overhead rail having a bearing surface of convex transverse contour, said assembly including a slide block having a longitudinally extending bearing surface for contact with the rail along at least the major portion of the length of the block, said bearing surface being of concave transverse contour with its radius of curvature greater than that of the rail face on which the block is intended to be used, a holder in which the block is retained, a bracket connected to the holder with a section of the bracket extending downwardly past the front of the block holder and adapted to extend below the top of the door with which it is intended to be used, and a lower portion extending inwardly below the block holder and adapted to extend into a recess in the back of the door when the assembly is attached to the door, and a vertically adjustable connector secured to the bracket and adapted to be secured to the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,878 McLeod Aug. 7, 1906 862,561 Hunt Aug. 6, 1907 1,067,725 Flugger July 15, 1913 1,742,256 Jessop Jan. 7, 1930 1,929,977 Jacobson Oct. 10, 1933 2,286,573 Ramsey June 16, 1942 2,410,892 Merz Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 178,487 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1935 203,935 Germany Nov. 3, 1908 846,568 France Sept. 20, 1938 

